Collector



July 9, 1935. H. .1. L.. FRANK E1' AL 2,007,893

CQLLECTOR Filed June s, 195s ATTORNEY.

Patented July 9, 1935 2,007,893

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE COLLECTOR Harrison J. L. Frank and WilliamA. Harper, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Bulldog Electric ProductsCompany, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of West Virginia Application June3, 1933, Serial No. 674,182 15 Claims. (Cl. 105-155) This inventionrelates to collectors, particularly tinctly to novel and importantdetails of manuadapted for use in connection with the stationary factureof the collector devices shown and deduct of a current distributingsystem, such as the scribed herein, will be readily apparent upon refonedisclosed in our co-pending application, Serial erence to the followingdetailed description of a No. 674,183, led June 3, 1933. deviceembodyingA the invention, which device The above identied applicationrelates to the iS ShOWn in the appended drawing. duct which includes thebus bars from which cur- Referring to this drawing it will be seenthatrent is to be taken, while the instant application Figs. 1 to 3 showva trolley of the invention in relates to the collectors for withdrawingcurrent plan, cutaway elevation, and end view, respecfrom the duct ofthat application. tively; fr

As has been described in the Frank et al. pat- Fig. 4 shows a malemember of one of the fused ents, Nos. 1,819,885, and 1,819,886, ofAugust 18, Switching Ineens forming part 0f the trolley 01' 1931, it hasbecome common practice to provide Figs. 1 to 3. a duct, as thestationary part of a current distribution system, from which duct thecurrent The collector of Fzgs' 1 to 4 In Figs. 1 to 4 there is shown acollector or may be taken at desired poi-nts by means of collectors orthe like. The present invention relates trolley havlng a duct-ContainedPortion referto improved coueotors, it being understood that @needeenerallWA, and a Supported portion, refthe term collector, as usedherein, is to referto erenced generally B, Outside 0f the duct and adevice having a portion insertable into the Connected t0 theduct-Contained DOTOD A by duct for collecting current from thev bus barsa pivotal connection, the same being specifically describedhereafter.

therein, and a portion outside of the duct which The duct-containedportion A includes a U.-

leads the current so collected to a. consuming device, such as amachine, power tool, etc., often Shaped metal frame plate l0 t0 WhOSebighl iS carried by the conector itse1fsecured a horizontally disposed,rigid base plate of insulation II, preferably of laminated con- Theprincipal object of the present invention is to provide a collectorwhich shall be light Weight and of small size, and which has a highdegree of economy of manufacture and eiliciency oi operation.

is particularly designed so as to ridealong and in the' duct, there isprovided on the portion vthat rides in the duct, a set o1' riding Wheelswhich support the collector and which facilitate move.

struction. The riding wheels of the trolley are secured to the frameplate III Whereas the collector wheels are secured `to the insulationsheet II, which thus forms a barrier between the live collector wheelsand the grounded riding wheels. Disposed between the sides of the frameplate I0 and rigidly connected thereto and projecting beyond the endsthereof arey heavy metal bars I2, whose ends project beyond the endsoi'the 35 trolley, to :form bumpers and absorb the shocks 40 In this formof collector, or trolley,- therev is -see ment of the collector alongthe duct, and a second set `of collector wheels which engage the busbars in the duct to act in the nature of roller contacts,

incident to the bumping of one trolley by another.

Passing through the sides of the frame plate and through the bumper barsI2 and -fixedly 40 mountedinasuitablfmannernot here described] A' 4-on-whoseendsff-ar'einea .tionlessfbearingswh v,Ch 'journal the'ridingiwhe'els A Y F15; there being 'an' axle I4 and consequently pairof wheels I5 at each end of the frame plate. '45

curedI to the portion riding in thefdugt, arfsecondi outsideortno duct,oor'itainihgfiised .switches such as are disclosed'in aco-pendingamilic'zatioii, Serial No. 480,463, led: September 8, 1930 by"H. J. L. Frank, one of the applicants of l this case; 'I'he switchesconnect the collector wheels to the load, by flexible cables leadingdownwardly from the trolley.

In this form of collector or trolley, thel portion that is outside ofthe duct is provided 'with a suitable means for suspending a p'oWertoolor the like, the means also facilitating movement of the trolley alongthe duct.

Objects of the invention which relate more dis- These wheels are adaptedto ride upon the rail portions I8 of the duct shown in dotted lines inFig. 3 and these Wheels support the entire device, as Well as all partsdepending therefrom, such as power'tools, etc., if the sameare soprovided.

For preventing lateral shifting of the trolley as it rides' in the ducton the Wheels I5, there are secured tothe sides of the frame plate II),v between the riding wheels I 5, side bearing wheels 55 portions A" andB I8, the four of these provided being shown as journalled in verticalaxles 2|) supported in the end portions of the plates of stampings 2| inturn xedly mounted on the sides of the frame plate I0.

Disposed on the rigid insulating base plate are the collector wheels,and in the form shown, where the trolley is disclosed in connection witha duct having three bus bars, two on the vertical sides and one on thehorizontal side of the duct, two of the collector wheels, referenced24--25 will be journalled on resiliently mounted vertical axles 26,whereas one of collector wheels referenced 21 Will be journalled on aresiliently mounted horizontal axle 28. The collector wheels per se, areof the construction disclosed in the Frank patent, No. 1,819,886,particularly in Fig. 2, and will therefore not be specifically describedhere.

The two vertically trunnioned wheels 24-25 are mounted in a suitablemanner on fibre blocks 30 and are covered by sheets of insulation 3|secured to these blocks. Each sheet and its block shields the adjacentcollector wheel and its associated parts, from the top of the duct, andfrom the opposite polarity bus bar.

Connected to the three binding posts 33, which are on the mountings ofthe three collector wheels 24, 25, and 21, are flexible conductors 34which pass through holes in the insulating base plate and throughcutouts in the bight of the U- shaped frame plate I and between thesides of the frame plate I0, down to the portion B. The latter portionis connected to the portion A by means of swivel connections in the formof rivets 3B connecting lugs 31, riveted to the portion A, with lugs 38riveted to the portion B, the

thus being rendered movable with respect to each other about the alinedpivots 36 as an axis.

The portion B, which is' outside of the duct as shown, includes a largeU- haped sheet metal plate having a bight 40 and sides 4| between and towhich sides are mounted the fused switches which connect conductors 34to the load cables 43. Each of these switches includes a receptacle 44and a fused plug 45 for co-operation therewith. The receptacles aresecured by screws, such as the screw 46 shown, to a stamping 41 disposedinside of and riveted to the sides 4| of the U-shaped frame plate, threereceptacles being shown for the three phases corresponding to the threebus bars in the duct, the three co1- lector wheels, the three conductors34, and the three load cables 43. i

The stamping 41 is terminally bent to cooperate with a similarly bentpart 48 and form therewith a clamp 48a through which passes and to whichis clamped the cables 43.

For securely latching the fused plugs 45 in the receptacles when theyare to be so disposed, each of the fused plugs is provided with a exiblestrap 49 secured thereto, (Fig. 4) as by a screw bolt having a nut 50.The ends of the strap are bent and retroverted as at and are providedwith cutout tongues 52 for cooperative engagement with the holes 53 inthe sides 4| of the U- shaped frame plate.

It is observed that `the hooked ends 5| of the straps 49 provideconvenient hangers for the plugs when the plugs are not to be insertedin their receptacles, as for example when the circuits through the plugsare to be broken to permit repair or fuse renewa The straps permit theplugs to be hung on the duct structure at some convenient point, or upona convenient part of the trolley.

To provide means for moving the trolleys to and fro in the duct, and forsupporting a power tool or the like, auxiliary plates 56, secured to theside plates 4| as by screws 51, are provided. These plates projectdownwardly below the U- shaped frame plate 40--4l a considerabledistance and at their lower ends are connected by a bolt 58 passedthrough the eye 59 of a rod 60. This rod provides means for moving thetrolley, and for suspending a tool, etc.

We claim:

1. For riding within a trolley duct having a top, sides, and a slottedbottom, and a bus bar under and adjacent the top wall, a trolley havinga head comprising a horizontal base dividing the duct horizontally intoisolated cells, ahorizontally axled bus bar engaging roller contact ontop of said base, said trolley having horizontally axled rollers ridingon said bottom wall and vertically axled rollers riding against the ductsides, and a spring for urging said roller contact towards the bus barand away from the bottom wall.

2. In a multiphase current collector, a horizontal base plate, currentcollectors thereon and thereabove and projecting in opposite directionswith respect to each other, and a current collector therebetween and onand above said plate and projecting vertically.

3. In a multiphase current collector, a horizontal base plate, blocksthereon and thereabove at diagonally opposed corners thereof, andoppositely directed collectors projecting horizontally from said blocks.

4. In a multiphase current collector, a horizontal base plate, blocksthereon and thereabove at diagonally opposed corners thereof, andoppositely directed collectors projecting horizontally from said blocks,means secured to and disposed under said base plate, and having verticalsides, horizontally axled rollers and vertically axled rollers on saidsides.

5. For use with a duct having an elongated continuous slot in its bottomwall, a current co1- lector having a portion riding therein and providedwith current collector contacts and a portion projecting therefromthrough said slot, and a tool supporting portion outside of said ductand pivotally connected to the riding portion on an axis parallel to therun of the duct, said outside portion including a member having circuitprotecting switch means adjacent the duct and in circuit with thecontacts and the sup' ported tool.

6. In combination with a distributor duct containing bus bars and anelongated slot, a trolley type current collector comprising an elongatedcurrent collector carriage for rolling along the duct and collectingcurrent from said bus bars and having longitudinally spaced sets of sidethrust rollers, supporting rollers, rand vertical thrust rollers forfrictionlessly restraining though not absolutely. preventing shiftingand rocking movements of the carriage transversely of the longitudinalaxis of the duct as it rolls along the duct, certain of the rollersbeing resiliently mounted to4 make contact with duct portions eventhough the carriage shiftor rock slightly as it rolls along the duct,the carriage having a portion projecting through and riding in the slotand manipulable outside the vduct and vtransversely remote from thelongitudinal axis thereof for causing the collector to roll easily alongthe duct with the carriage therewithin.

7 In combination with a distributor duct containing bus bars and anelongated slot, a trolley type current collector comprising an elongatedcurrent collector carriage for rolling along the duct and collectingcurrent from said bus bars and having longitudinally spaced sets of sidethrust rollers, supporting rollers, and vertical thrust rollers forfrictionlessly restraining though not absolutely preventing shifting androcking movements of the carriage transversely of the longitudinal axisof the duct as it rolls along the duct, certain of the rollers beingresiliently mounted to make contact with duct portions even though thecarriage shift or rock slightly as it rolls along the duct, the carriagehaving a portion projecting through and riding in the slot andmanipulable outside the duct and transversely remote from thelongitudinal axis thereof for causing the collector to roll easily alongthe duct with the carriage therewithin, the portion carrying circuitprotective means.

8. In combination with a distributor duct containing bus bars and anelongated slot, a trolley type current collector comprising an elongatedcurrent collector carriage for rolling along the duct and collectingcurrent from said bus bars and havinglongitudinally spaced sets of sidethrust rollers,. supporting rollers, and vertical thrust rollers forfrictionlessly restraining though not absolutely preventing shifting androcking movements of the carriage transversely of the longitudinal 4axisof the duct as it rolls along the duct, certain of the rollers beingresiliently mounted to make contact with duct portions even though thecarriage shift or rock slightly as it rolls along the. duct, thecarriage having a portion projecting through and riding in the slot andmanipulable outside the duct and trans-- versely remote from thelongitudinal axis thereof for causing the collector to roll easily alongthe duct with the carriage therewithin, the portion carrying circuitprotective means in the nature of fusing and switching means.

9. In combination with a distributor duct containing bus bars and anelongated s1ot,'a trolley type current collector comprising an elongatedcurrent collector carriage for rolling along the duct and collectingcurrent from said bus bars and having longitudinally spaced sets of sidethrust rollers, supporting rollers, and vertical thrust rollers forfrictionlessly restraining though not absolutely preventing shifting androcking movements of the carriage transversely of the longitudinal axisof the duct as it rolls along the duct,.certain of the rollers beingresiliently mounted to make contact with duct portions even though thecarriage shift or rock slightly as it rolls along the duct, the carriagehaving a portion projecting through and riding in the slot andmanipulable outside the duct and transversely remote from thelongitudinal axis thereof for causing the collector to roll easily alongthe duct with the carriage therewithin, certain of the side thrustrollers being within the duct and acting as current collectors, rollingon bus bars on the sides of the duct.

10. In combination with a distributor duct containing bus bars and anelongated slot, a trolley type current collector comprising an elongatedcurrent collector carriage for rolling along the duct and collectingcurrent from said bus bars and having longitudinally spacedv sets ofside thrust rollers, supporting rollers, and vertical thrust rollers forfrictionlessly restraining though not absolutely preventing shifting androcking movements of the carriage transversely of the longitudinal axisof the duct as it rolls along the duct, certain of the rollers beingresiliently mounted to make contact with duct portions even though thecarriage shiftor rock slightly as it rolls along the duct, the carriagehaving a portion projecting through and riding in the slot andmanipulable outside the duct and transversely remote from thelongitudinal axis thereof for causing the collector to roll easily alongthe duct with the carriage therewithin, certain of the side thrustrollers being within the duct and acting as current collectors, rollingon bus bars on the sides of the duct, certain of the vertical thrustrollers also being within the duct and acting as current collectors,rolling on bus bars on horizontal surfaces of the duct.

11. In combination with a distributor duct containing bus bars and anelongated slot, a trolley type current collector comprising an elongatedcurrent collector carriage for rolling along the duct and collectingcurrent from said bus bars and having longitudinally spaced sets of sidethrust rollers, supporting rollers, and vertical thrust rollers forfrictionlessly restraining though not absolutely preventing shifting androcking movements of the carriage transversely of the longitudinal axisof the duct as it rolls along the duct, certain of the rollers beingresiliently mounted to make contact with duct portions even though thecarriage shift or rock slightly as it rolls along the duct, the carriagehaving a portion projecting through and riding in the slot andmanipulable outside the duct and transversely remote from thelongitudinal axis thereof for causing the collector to roll easily alongthe duct with the carriage therewithin, and a hinge connection betweenthe carriage and the last mentioned portion whereby the collector isarticulated.

12. In combination with a distributor duct containing bus bars and anelongated slot, a trolley type current collector comprising an elongatedcurrent collector carriage for rolling along the duct and collectingcurrent from said bus bars and having longitudinally spaced sets of sidethrust rollers, supporting rollers, and Vertical thrust rollers forfrictionlessly restraining though not absolutely preventing shifting androcking movements of the carriage transversely of the longitudinal axisof the duct as it rolls along the duct, certain of the rollers beingresiliently mounted to make contact with duct portions even though thecarriage shift or rock slightly as it rolls along the duct, the carriagehaving a portion projecting through and riding in the slot andmanipulable outside the duct and transversely remote from thelongitudinal axis thereof for causing the collector to roll easily alongthe duct with the carriage therewithin, and a hinge connection betweenthe carriage and the last mentioned portion whereby the collector isarticulated, the axis of the hinge being parallel to the axis of theduct.

13. A combination of the character described in claim 6 wherein theportion manipulable outside the duct for causing the collector to rollalong the duct is provided with a tool supporting means and a clampingmeans for a branch circuit conductor electrically connected to thecontacts of the collector and freely depending from the collector,whereby the portion may be pulled along the duct by the tool supportedthereby or by the conductor depending therefrom.

w by or by the conductor depending therefrom, the

portion being connected thereto by a hinge connection whose axis isparallel to the axis of the duct.

15. A combination of the character described in claim 12 wherein thehinge connections are adiacent the duct slot, whereby practically all ofthe collector outside the duct can move with respect to the carriagewithin the duct. 1

HARRISON J. L. FRANK. WILLIAM A. HARPER.

